2012 Olympics: India Day 10 Recap

In a surprise showing, Vikas Gowda, pictured, advanced to the finals of the men’s discus throw event, with a best throw of 65.20 meters in the qualifying round. Click here to view related slideshow.

There’s still some hope India will bring home gold. Medal hopefuls include boxer M.C. Mary Kom, who Monday continued her winning streak, advancing to the semifinals.

However, celebrations back home were rather muted, as star boxer Vijender Singh failed to qualify for semifinals of the men’s 75-kilogram event.

Here’s a recap of India’s performance on Aug. 6:

1. Boxer M.C. Mary Kominched a little closer to gold, thrashing Tunisian’s Maroua Rahali 15-6, to sail through to the semifinals of the women’s 51-kilogram flyweight boxing competition. The five-time world boxing champion sealed her win with a seven point lead in the last two rounds, becoming the third Indian woman – after badminton star Saina Nehwal and weightlifter Karnam Malleswari – to secure an Olympic medal. In boxing, all semifinalists are guaranteed at least bronze. The 29-year-old will face Great Britian’s Nicola Adams in the semifinals on Wednesday at 6.45 p.m. Indian time.

Boxer Vijender Singh, who shot to overnight stardom after his 2008 Olympic bronze, was knocked out of the Games after a nerve-wracking quarterfinal loss to Uzbekistan’s Abbos Atoev. Singh, who won bronze in Beijing, was defeated 13-17 in the men’s 75-kg event. The two had met before. At the 2010 Asian Games, Singh thrashed Atoev to clinch gold.

2. In a surprise showing, Vikas Gowda advanced to the finals of the men’s discus throw event, with a best throw of 65.20 meters in the qualifying round. Gowda, who stands at a towering 6-foot-9 inches and grew up in the U.S., will compete in the finals Wednesday. (Scheduled for 12.15 a.m. Indian time.)

3. Gagan Narang and Sanjeev Rajput failed to advance to the finals of the men’s 50-meter rifle 3 positions, finishing 20th and 27th respectively out of 41. Narang, who opened India’s medal tally with bronze at the 10-meter air rifle event, scored a disappointing 1164 out of a possible 1200 while 31-year-old Rajput scored 1161.

4. Even though trap shooter Manavjit Singh Sandhu put up an impressive show with 119 points out of a possible 125 in the second qualifying round, the 36-year-old couldn’t secure a berth in the finals, partly owing to his disappointing performance in the first round. Sandhu, who finished 15th out of 35 competitors in the second qualifying round, had finished 24th place in the first round, Sunday.

Week two of the London Olympics began on a promising note for India, as its overall medal tally rose to four, the country's best performance at an Olympics. In pictures, a look at India's athletes in London.

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2010 Commonwealth Games bronze medalist Renjith Maheshwary was eliminated from the men's triple jump competition after three consecutive fouls or 'no jumps' in the qualifying round. Shown, the 26-year-old attempted a jump during the qualifiers, Tuesday.
Matt Slocum/Associated Press…

The hockey team faced their fifth consecutive defeat in a preliminary match, losing to Belgium 3-0, to place last in their group. Shown, Manpreet Singh of India, right, dodged Florent van Aubel of Belgium, left, during the preliminary match, Tuesday.
Reuters…

Vikas Godwa, who swept the qualifiers of the men's discus throw event, failed to make a mark in the finals, finishing eighth out of 12. Shown, the 29-year-old attempted a throw during the finals, Tuesday.
Reuters…

Vikas Gowda, who towers at 6-feet-9 inches tall, progressed to the finals of the men's discus throwing competition, with a best throw of 65.20 meters in the qualifying round. Shown, the 29-year-old during qualifiers, Monday.
Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters…

Trap shooter Manavjit Singh Sandhu couldn't advance to the final after coming 16th in the qualifying round. Shown, the 35-year-old from Amritsar took aim during the second round of qualifiers, Monday.
Marwan Naamani/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images…

Gagan Narang, who opened India's Olympic tally with bronze in the 10-meter air rifle event, didn't have as much success in the men's 50-meter rifle 3 positions, finishing 20th out of 41 shooters in qualifying. Shown, Narang adjusted his rifle during the qualifiers, Monday.
Rebecca Blackwell/Associated Press…

Kom, right, punched her way into the quarterfinal of the women's flyweight event, defeating Poland's Karolina Michalczuk 19-14 in the round of 16, Sunday.
Jack Guez/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images…

India's Gurbaj Singh played a shot during a group stage hockey match against South Korea, Sunday. India's hockey team lost to South Korea 1-4, its fourth consecutive defeat at the London Olympics.
Orestis Panagiotou/European Pressphoto Agency…

26-year-old boxer Manoj Kumar, right, was knocked out of the Games after losing to Great Britain's George Stalker 20-16 in the men's 64-kilogram round of 16, Sunday. The young boxer cried foul soon after the verdict, alleging that the judgment was "fixed" and unfair.
Ivan Sekretarev/Associated Press…

Saina Nehwal created history after winning bronze in the women's singles badminton event, becoming the only Indian to win an Olympic medal in badminton. Shown, the 22-year-old posed with her medal, Saturday.
Adek Berry/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images…

Even though Krishna Poonia began on a promising note, the 35-year-old discus thrower failed to clinch a medal in the women's final, finishing seventh. Shown, the 2010 Commonwealth Games gold medalist in action, Saturday.
David J. Phillip/Associated Press…

Shooter Vijay Kumar won India its second medal at the London Olympics: a silver in the 25-meter rapid fire pistol event. Shown, the 26-year-old shooter, also an officer in the Indian army, posed with his medal, Friday.
Rebecca Blackwell/Associated Press…

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